In the Women’s T20 World Cup, bowlers often face a tough challenge as they try to restrict powerful batting line-ups. Occasionally, despite their best efforts, they end up conceding a significant number of runs. This article reviews the top five instances where bowlers have surrendered the most runs in a single innings in the tournament’s history.
Shikha Pandey holds the record for the highest number of runs conceded by a bowler in a single innings during the Women’s T20 World Cup. On March 8, 2020, at Melbourne, Pandey was tasked with containing a formidable Australian batting side. Over the course of four overs, she gave away 52 runs, an economy rate of 13.00. Pandey’s inability to effectively challenge the Australian batters meant that she could not prevent them from scoring freely, which was evident from the high total of runs she conceded. Her performance highlighted the difficulties faced by bowlers in high-pressure situations against aggressive batting teams.
Eimear Richardson faced a similarly challenging scenario on March 27, 2014, at Sylhet. In her four-over spell against Australia, Richardson gave away 50 runs, with an economy rate of 12.50. The Australian batters exploited the conditions and Richardson’s bowling, piling up runs with ease. Despite Richardson’s efforts, the high scoring rate by the Australians meant that she was unable to restrict the flow of runs, leading to a significant number of runs conceded.
In her four-over spell against Australia in 2014, Eimear Richardson gave away 50 runs // Picture Courtesy — Cricket World
Nida Dar had a difficult outing on February 21, 2023, at Cape Town when she faced England. In her four-over spell, Dar conceded 47 runs, resulting in an economy rate of 11.75. Dar’s struggle to contain the English batsmen was evident from the high number of runs scored off her overs. The English team capitalized on her bowling, demonstrating their ability to score quickly and effectively. Dar’s performance reflects the challenge of bowling against a strong and well-balanced batting line-up.
On November 16, 2018, at Gros Islet, ShashikalaSiriwardene experienced a tough match against the West Indies. She ended up conceding 46 runs in her four overs, with an economy rate of 11.50. The West Indian batters took advantage of Siriwardene’s bowling, scoring freely and contributing to the high number of runs conceded. Siriwardene’s struggle was a key factor in the match, as her inability to keep the run rate in check allowed the West Indies to set a challenging total.
In 2018, at Gros Islet, ShashikalaSiriwardene experienced a tough match against the West Indies // Picture Courtesy — Island Cricket
Sophie Molineux had a challenging game on November 17, 2018, at Providence, where she conceded 45 runs in her four-over spell against India. Molineux’s economy rate for the innings was 11.25, reflecting the difficulty she faced in containing the Indian batters. Despite her efforts, the Indian team managed to score runs at a high rate, demonstrating their batting prowess. Molineux’s performance was a significant aspect of the game, as the high number of runs conceded contributed to the overall scoring in the match.
Sophie Molineux reacts to her outstanding return to ODI cricket in Dhaka #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/gZmhktyx2C
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 24, 2024
The instances of too many runs conceded by bowlers in the Women’s T20 World Cup underscore the formidable challenge faced by bowlers in T20 cricket. Shikha Pandey, Eimear Richardson, Nida Dar, ShashikalaSiriwardene, and Sophie Molineux each experienced matches where they struggled to control the scoring rate. Their performances highlight the pressures of bowling in high-stakes games against aggressive batting sides, where even the best bowlers can find themselves on the back foot. These examples serve as a reminder of the fluctuating fortunes in cricket and the difficulties bowlers face in maintaining their discipline under intense conditions.
